Off Topic but energy related info

Ex Maine Doug

The April 2010 issue of Trains Magazine has an extensive article on the business of coal.  Many pictures and graphs on the North American coal market and the moving of coal from mine to user. Trains are used to transport coal more than any other method. Details the biggest users and mines and exports. Fascinating stuff with a railroad bent.

Mark Eatherton

Big battle looming here in Colorado...

Coal trains are a fact of life around here, 24/7/365 headed from Wyoming to the four corners coal plant electrical generation. There is a bill that is being voted upon in the Colorado legislature that would eliminate coal burning plants in Colorado, and replace them with natural gas burning plants.



There are television commercials from both sides making claims that their idea is better than the others. The NG people are claiming JOBS, which this state can use right now, while the coal people are saying that the cost of electricity will probably QUADRUPLE..



With todays efficient particulate removal, and the possibility of carbon sequestration being on the near horizon, I think we are better of keeping the coal. One last hurdle to go before it becomes law.



Tree hugging at its finest. Fossilized trees that is :-)



ME

David07666

John PcPhee had a great article on this topic

A couple of years ago, John McPhee had a great article on the coal trains out west.  It was originally published in the New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/03/051003fa_fact_mcphee -- subscription required) but also anthologized in a book, "Uncommon Carriers" http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/books/review/18hochschild.html which included articles about shipping, UPS, and other shipping related stuff